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Walter B. Holcomb
Agency patch
Patrolman

Walter B. Holcomb

San Diego Police Department — San Diego, CA
Illness
United States flag California flag
End of Watch October 21, 1918
Age 33
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
The Vigil Panel 35 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 37

Incident

Patrolman Walter Holcomb died as a result of contracting Spanish influenza. At the time he contracted the disease he was transporting a flu victim to the hospital. The virus was part of a worldwide epidemic at the time. Patrolman Holcomb had served with the agency for nine years. He was survived by his wife and two children. One of his brothers also served with the agency. Effects of the 1918-1920 Influenza Pandemic on Law Enforcement Also known as "Spanish Flu" or "LaGrippe," the Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to early 1920, infected an estimated 500 million people worldwide—about one-third of the planet’s population—and killed approximately 675,000 Americans. The effect of the influenza epidemic in the United States was so dire that the average life span in the U.S. fell by twelve years. The four waves of the flu began in March 1918 and ended in April 1920. Many officers contracted this virus due to the requirements of their job. The names of every officer who died in the line of duty from the Influenza Pandemic will likely never be known. Still, ODMP researchers continue to uncover new cases as part of our mission never to forget the fallen. Please click here to view ODMP's Influenza memorial, listing all known fallen officers from the pandemic.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Holcomb gave the San Diego Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Holcomb.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department San Diego Police Department
Type Other
Location San Diego, San Diego County, CA
Platform Identity sdpd.sandiego.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 21, 1918
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 33
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Illness

The Sacrifice · Illness

Walter is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

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Compare against
I

Time

In 1918, 226 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 3rd heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Walter was 33. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Walter had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

October holds 14.9% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 14.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

San Diego Police Department has 38 officers remembered here, Walter among them.

Across the years

Patrolman Walter B. Holcomb

San Diego Police Department · End of Watch October 21, 1918

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-E

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